Lions. Tigers. Bears.Surgically remove their rear legs.Replace them with trollies, that adjustable for resistance (speed)Set them up, so that reasonably fit adults, including the elderly can out run themMake the elderly and obese, physically pick their disability/social security checks up.Starve the animals, and set them free.

Solve the obesity and medicare/social security problem. Adjust for the old folks whenthe fund is solvent again.

Richard C Stanford:So how do we solve the obesity crises? I say we just don't make any accommodations for fat bastards. If you can't fit in the ambulance, then you don't get any medicine. It's time to start holding people responsible and stop coddling them. We need to thin the herd somehow.

I am guessing some solutions will be market based. Eventually, insurance companies will have to wade in to bring down the costs.

When repugs complain about paying for my birth control (for my sins of lust), I say they have a valid point. So, no birth control for me and no erectile dysfunction drugs for you (which have pretty much always been covered, BTW).

But why stop there? Why should I pay for your sins of gluttony and sloth? Your lifestyle choices bring greater risks, so your premiums should be higher. Whereas I work very hard to stay fit and healthy, so how about a discount for those of us who try? Of course the teabaggers, who scream about personal responsibility, are just full of denial and/or excuses when it comes to their taking responsibilty for their choices.

snocone:THX 1138: My apologies. I didn't clarify that (in my experience at least), buildings with stairwells that only open to ground level will automatically release door locks on all floors during an alarm, for exactly that reason. Still farking annoying.

elvindeath:I love the nanny state. Just wait until they decide its unhealthy for you to spend hours on the internet all day, and that reading Fark comment threats and participating in online discussions just raises your blood pressure and ban all that too.

/ I wish that was out of the realm of possibility, but these big government "wer're here to help you" types are never known for restraint. Just look at all the pits filled with bodies of "the opposition" in all the big Socialist states of the 1900s.

I recall reading about how in Russia, the gulags and mass killings only became possible after they posted signs showing where stairways were in buildings.

This text is now purple:Mrs.Sharpier: This text is now purple: mbillips: Obesity is a public health issue. You have a problem with the government paying for vaccine research and ensuring that kids get their shots? Same thing.

Obesity isn't contagious. Try again.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/25/health/25cnd-fat.html?_r=0

Study finds obesity can be contagious...

I don't see a viably proposed physical mechanism for transmittal. Correlation is fun, but it's not causation. And it only works for friends; co-workers and family don't cause it.

It seems Bloomberg didn't even bother looking at how many calories something like this will really burn. I don't think anyone's going to use the stairs if it will take them more than 2 minutes to reach the top, and a 300 lb person will only burn 40 calories at the 2 minute mark.

Pelvic Splanchnic Ganglion:I don't know why you thought Nanny Bloomberg would stop at smoking, or transfats, or sugary drinks, or any of the other things that adults should be able to decide for themselves. You elected him. You wanted someone to tell you how to live and now you've got it. Tagging it "asinine" now is just closing the barn door after the horse has already gotten out.

I can't believe everyone was duped in to allowing the tyranny of access to stairs and signs showing you where they are. Truly, evil only prevails when good men do nothing.